Ever heard of an all-female dance troupe that tells powerful stories through African and contemporary movement? The Tizika Dance Troupe is the premier Kenyan dance collective that transforms stories into unforgeable performances.
The seven-member dance group, hell-bent on challenging the status quo in a field dominated by men, is curving its own niche in blending traditional and contemporary dance styles to inspire, entertain, and educate.
For Haika Makiki, Nelly Bradbury, Deborah Taprandich, Mercy Mueni, Beatrice Mwangi, Marilyn Obuyu, and Virginia Kariuki, dancing is more than choreography. The dynamic group purposes to be a creative force using dance as a platform for expression, empowerment, and social impact.
In an interview with TV47 Digital, the septet say it wanted a safe space to express, heal, and grow through dance—as women and as artists, and that is why they settled on forming the all-female crew.
“We want to turn every performance into a story and every dance into a journey. Through ‘Once Upon a Dance,’ we fuse diverse movement styles with meaningful narratives that speak to our time, our culture, and our shared human experience.”
And what makes Tizika different from others? Well, members of the dance troupe say they fuse culture with creativity—mixing African dance, modern moves, strong visuals, and deep storytelling in their performance.
Kenyans have seen budding dance groups come, achieve instant fame before disappearing from the scene. However, Tizika says they intent to stay relevant by staying creative, consistent, and real. We follow trends—but we keep it Tizika.
And the girls are not just dancing for entertainment, as they aspire to have a social impact where their dance invoke change and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of; Health & Well-being, Education, Sustainability in Art, Human Rights & Advocacy, and Public Health Messaging.
And when asked where they see themselves in five years? They had this to say; “On global stages, running a creative hub, mentoring youth, and telling bigger stories through dance.
Tizika Dance Troupe offers; Live Performances, Media Content Creation, Dance Influencer Agency, Tourism & Cultural Heritage, Collaborative & Brand Events, Community Engagement, as well as Dance Education & Wellness.
